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'''{{Expand|date=January 2007}}
'''''Watchmen''''' is a [[graphic novel]] written by [[Alan Moore]] and drawn by [[Dave Gibbons]]. It is one of the most important [[superhero]] stories, ushering in a new era of adult-oriented mainstream [[comics]].
{{otheruses}}
'''Flexibility''' is the popular term for the ability to easily [[bend]] an [[Object (physics)|object]] or the ability to adapt to different circumstances. However, in various professional fields, more precise terms are used.
There is a lot of speculation about flexibility . Where does it come from ? How does it reproduce ? What is it`s habitat and more. Flexibility is a small, almost microscopic animal that you can barely see, so don`t listen to of any of this bullshit. Whoever wrote this is no better than a graffiti-ist. Go and do a painting instead.
The title is a reference to the Latin phrase "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes", often translated as "Who watches the watchmen?". The story postulates a world, parallel to ours, in which superheroes actually exist; Alan Moore explores their impact on this society, and postulates a situation where unaccountable supermen arrange the lives of common people.
==Physiology==
As of November [[as of 2004|2004]], [[Paul Greengrass]] will direct a movie based on the series for [[Paramount Pictures]], with a script by [[David Hayter]]. No actors have yet been cast.
In the [[physiology]] of vertebrates, including humans, the measurement of the achievable distance between the flexed position and the extended position of a particular [[joint]] or muscle group is called its "flexibility", but this is more properly called its [[range of motion]] or range of movement. In this sense, the flexibility of a joint depends on many factors, particularly the length and looseness of the [[muscle]]s and [[ligament]]s due to normal human variation, and the shape of the [[bone]]s and [[cartilage]] that make up the joint.
Flexibility, or suppleness, is also a more generalized term used to compare the relative range of motion of all joints of an individual with a standard. The ability to achieve a full range of movements – to turn, stretch, twist and bend – without any stiffness, aching or suffering a spine or joint injury is defined as [http://www.healthy-body-healthy-mind.com/how-to-build-suppleness/ suppleness].
==Plot summary, not containing spoilers==
[[Image:Watchmencovers.png|framed|Cover art for both the [[US]] and [[United Kingdom|UK]] collected editions of the ''Watchmen'' comics, published [[1987]] by [[DC Comics]]/[[Titan Books]]]]
Medical conditions such as [[arthritis]] can decrease flexibility, while [[Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome]] can increase flexibility. Exercise increases the amount of flexibility in a joint, while decreasing the amount of resistance.
A right-wing extremist vigilante, [[Rorschach (superhero)|Rorschach]], investigates the murder of [[The Comedian]], another costumed adventurer. This triggers another investigation that causes him to track down and interview his former associates, whom he believes are being targeted by an enemy who is out to eliminate the superheroes. In a world that has been drastically changed ([[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] is still President, the [[Vietnam War]] was won by the U.S., etc) by the superhuman powers of another adventurer, Dr. Manhattan, the team members start to reconsider who they are in the midst of a complex situation that seems to push events even closer to the brink of an impending global disaster.
Those who practice [[gymnastics]] (especially [[rhythmic gymnastics]]), [[dance]], [[figure skating]], [[martial arts]], [[body toning]], [[yoga]], [[cheerleading]] and [[contortion]] rely on functional flexibility (increased range of motion with strength and control) to perform their actions.
In the early [[1980s]] [[DC Comics]], who had acquired a number of existing characters from [[Charlton Comics]], commissioned a treatment from [[Alan Moore|Moore]] for a mini-series about them. The resulting story, recast with new heroes to avoid continuity problems with DC's mainstream comics, was often hailed as a breakthrough in comic book writing and, along with [[Frank Miller]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'', sparked an interest in comics amongst a wider adult audience than traditionally associated with them.
===Benefits===
'''The principal cast and the [[Charlton Comics]] characters that inspired them''':
Suppleness or flexibility is an important part of a healthful life. Being supple means that you can reach up to take an item down from a bookshelf, for example, or bend down to tie your shoe laces, without feeling that your movements are restricted in any way. When you are young, you tend to take suppleness for granted. But as and when you start growing older, you need to spend a bit of time enhancing and maintaining your suppleness.
* [[The Comedian]], adapted from [[Peacemaker (comics)|The Peacemaker]].
* [[Dr Manhattan]], adapted from [[Captain Atom]].
* [[Nite Owl]] I, adapted from [[Blue Beetle|Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)]].
* [[Nite Owl]] II, adapted from [[Blue Beetle|Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)]].
* [[Ozymandias (comics)|Ozymandias]], adapted from [[Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt|Thunderbolt]].
* [[Rorschach (superhero)|Rorschach]], adapted from [[The Question]].
* [[Silk Spectre]], adapted from [[Nightshade (comics)| Nightshade]]
Anyone can start a daily routine of simple stretches at any age to restore or increase that flexibility to your muscles as well as joints. Some studies show that you are never too old to reverse the reduced level of suppleness that comes with the age. It really doesn’t matter as to how long it has been building up.
==Critical concerns in ''Watchmen''==
===How To Achieve Flexibility===
{{spoiler}}
Flexibility can be temporarily increased by regular [[stretching]] of the muscles either by performing specific exercises or by actively participating in activities that take the joints through their full range of movement and lengthens the muscles. Muscles are wrapped in connective tissues, which, rather like chewing gum, are resistant to being stretched when cold. For this specific reason, it is very important to attempt stretching exercises only when your muscles are warm. When stretching, a slight degree of tension should be felt in the muscle. Attempting to stretch too far may cause physical discomfort or even pain and can further result in an injury. So in order to maintain your suppleness, stretches need to be held for at least 10-40 seconds which gives connective tissues enough time to lengthen.
Stretching regularly can result in flexibility that is retained for as long as 48 hours, depending on the duration and depth (effective relaxation) of the stretch. This component is important to avoid injuries during leisure activities{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
''Watchmen'' uses [[false document]]s in a centrally important way; much of the story is told or illustrated with journals, invented news reports, articles on the world of the Watchmen, and particularly the diary of anti-hero [[Rorschach]]. The verisimilitude with which these documents are presented is important, as it works in opposition to the potentially-cartoonish origins of the material. While the work is not entirely composed of false documents, the documents that are used have a central thematic and technical role in the drama, especially [[Rorschach]]'s psychiatric history ,and the [[EC Comics]]-style [[pirate]] comic book which counterpoints to the larger narrative, and is the product of one of the kidnapped artists. The fictitious right-wing magazine ''The New Frontiersman'' also proves important to the plotline.
===Relative flexibility===
Watchmen is concerned with levels of authenticity and the contrast between objective and subjective perspectives. Is [[Rorschach]] the 'hero', because of his intense personal conviction, or is he merely an emotionally-damaged liability, overshadowed by the superficially less complex [[Nite Owl]], who dedicates equivalent levels of capital to more and more elaborate toys and masks?
Since muscles which go through grow in size but not in length, when one muscle grows through hypertrophy its opposite side muscle (the antagonist) will have to lengthen, and absolute flexibility is the term to describe a muscle's length, in and of itself, where relative flexibility is the flexibility of a joint, as compared to its antagonistic movement<ref>[http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=73 "Back to the Basics for the New Year"], by Paul Chek</ref>.
For example, the [[calf muscle]] extends the foot towards the [[ground]] ([[plantarflexion]]) and the [[anterior tibialis|shin muscle]] flexes the foot in the opposite direction ([[dorsiflexion]]).
The book is also concerned with props, masks and a general investigation of the "realness" and "perfection" of costumed crimefighters, all but one of which are ordinary human beings encased in physical, spiritual, and mental masks. It inspects the depth and literality of [[Übermensch]]en in a [[naturalist]]ic setting. The evolution of superheroes is presented as an [[arms race]] of authenticity, starting with a masked wrestler, then a masked cop, then techno-dilettantes and madmen and vigilantes, finally culminating in the genuinely superhuman [[Doctor Manhattan]]—the hero that is so "real" that he not only makes the costumed crimefighters obsolete, he makes all of mankind irrelevant.
If a person's calf is [[tonic (physiology)|overly strong]] it will not be as flexible as the opposite shin muscle, and plantarflexion will be exhibit relatively inflexible as compared to dorsiflexion using the person's [[phasic (physiology)|weaker]], but more flexible shin muscle.
==RelatedSystems productstheory==
In [[systems theory]], which has applications in diverse fields including biology, ecology, psychology, economics, and management, the flexibility of a [[adaptive system|system]] is related to its [[adaptation]] to a new environment or its [[resilience]] in recovering from a shock or disturbance.
In 1987, [[Mayfair Games]] produced two adventure modules based on ''Watchmen'' for its ''[[DC Heroes]]'' [[role-playing game]]. These modules, entitled ''Who Watches the Watchmen?'' and ''Taking out the Trash,'' included background information about the fictional ''Watchmen'' universe, approved by [[Alan Moore]]. His approval made these publications valuable to fans as the only outside source of supplemental information about the characters in the story (especially minor characters, such as the [[Minutemen (comics)|Minutemen]] and [[Moloch (comics)|Moloch]]).
One example is the attribute of [[Flexibility (engineering)|flexibility]] in engineering.'''''Italic text''
In 1988 British Acid House music act [[Bomb The Bass]] used the blood stained smiley badge on the cover of the "Beat Dis" single release. This influenced the adoption of the Smiley Badge as a feature of rave culture.
==External linksReferences==
<references/>
* ''[http://www.comics-db.com/DC_Comics/W/Watchmen/index.html Watchmen]'' at the [[Big Comic Book DataBase]]
<!-- *[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/3840/watchmen.html Watchmen Summary and Links] BROKEN -->
*[http://members.tripod.com/~sonofthelizardking/moorelinks.html Links to Alan Moore Fansites]
*[http://www.stahl.bau.tu-bs.de/~hildeb/watchmen/ Ralf Hildebrandt's Annotations]
*[http://www.enjolrasworld.com/Annotations/Alan%20Moore/Watchmen/watchmen%20index.htm Doug Atkinson's Annotations]
*[http://www.capnwacky.com/rj/watchmen/chapter1.html Doug Atkinson's Annotations Mirror Site]
*[http://www.toonopedia.com/watchmen.htm Toonopedia entry]
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